Q: system preferences

System Preferences stop responding after viewing Desktop & Screen Saver pane.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4407

Or Finder Go menu ->> Goto Folder... "~/Library and delete "Preferences/com.apple.screensaver.plist"

did you try NVRAM resetting?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US

as well as Repair disk permission with Disk Utility?

Or delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

First follow the instructions in this support article.

If the iPhoto library is the source of your desktop pictures, it may need to be rebuilt, or you may need to update the iPhoto application to the latest version.

Otherwise, continue as below.

Back up all data.

In the Finder, hold down the option key and select

Go ▹ Library

from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists: 

• Caches/com.apple.systempreferences

and move the following item to the Desktop:

• Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist

Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the item on the Desktop back where it came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the item.